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Original poster

Changing a baby's name

31 replies

deliakate · 15/07/2011 13:08

What are your thoughts on changing babies names after the initial obligatory annunciatory texts/emails/phone calls have gone out? And what about doing it twice?

My situ - DH and I could not agree on a name for DD. An hour after giving birth, DH told me I could choose and he was always going to let me choose. I kind of panicked and chose X. About two weeks later, I realised I didn't even like X, and we slowly told everyone we knew she was going to known by her middle name, Y. I eventually registered her with Y as her Christian name.

NOW, I'm not even sure I like Y. There is another name I really like, and wish I had gone for. DD is now almost 7 weeks old. Can I change it again? Legally, obviously, I can. But really is this going to seem ridiculous to everyone? I'd like to be someone who doesn't care what others think, but I'm wondering what I would think if a friend or acquaintance had a new name for her child each time I saw her. Your thoughts?

OP posts:
charliejosh · 15/07/2011 13:10

YANBU, your DD is a baby, change it again if you don't like the name you have given her

AKMD · 15/07/2011 13:11

I would change it. The important thing is that your DD isn't old enough to know her name so it won't confuse her. People will probably laugh at you but it will be good-natured and who cares anyway? It will be forgotten very quickly taht she ever had a different name.

Just don't do it again!

Original poster
deliakate · 15/07/2011 13:33

Maybe I am a horribly harsh judge then and think others will judge me by my standards.... I am not very tolerant of indecision, although totally indecicive myself

OP posts:
cadifflur · 15/07/2011 13:47

Friend of mine changed her DD's name twice (think she had registered 2nd time too). Go for it ASAP, (as long as you are SURE this time Grin ) quicker the better.

MsPlaced · 15/07/2011 13:51

I'd probably quietly think you were bonkers, but wouldn't say anything and would forget about it quickly.
But yes if you are going to do it, hurry up about it!

DoMeDon · 15/07/2011 13:52

We dislike most in others what we dislike most in ourselves; you think everyone will be annoyed about your dithering because you would be. I wouldn't give a toss.

Change it if you REALLY want to. The thing is there are hundreds of names I like and I constantly 'wish' DD had been named one of them. But she is her name now iykwim.

thursday · 15/07/2011 13:56

do it, wish i had.

biddysmama · 15/07/2011 13:57

i dislike ds1's name Blush but hes 9 so i cant really change it now, i was 18 when i had him and i loved it, now its very chavvy :(

yanbu but do it quick :)

GwendolineMaryLacey · 15/07/2011 13:58

I'd think you were a bit bonkers but rather do it at 7 weeks than the really bonkers people that do it at 12 months. I think that is ridiculous.

SurreyDad · 15/07/2011 13:58

As long as you haven't already registered the birth, you can do what you want.

Concordia · 15/07/2011 13:59

i changed my DD's name twice - cadifflur do i know you? - i agree quicker the better if you decide to change.
i don't regret it. most people were very understanding, and some confided their name dithering to me - only a couple of people thought i was mad!

Concordia · 15/07/2011 14:00

i just told people it was my version of post natal insanity - they seemed to let me off!
second time was registered - minimal hassle to change in the first year after registration.

hairfullofsnakes · 15/07/2011 14:02

Biddy what is it?!!!!

Chanr it asap op or u will regret it

ZillionChocolate · 15/07/2011 14:03

Change it now, but make sure you tell people. A friend of mine spent ages embroidering a baby name picture thing and when it was too late, the parents added another middle name :-(

NotJustKangaskhan · 15/07/2011 14:03

I agree with others, do it. Some may think it a bit silly at first, but it will quickly be forgotten as an amusing anecdote for when she's older. I think there is too much rush to name babies (I've seriously been asked before I was even 16 weeks pregnant!) before we get to know them and recover from birth.

biddysmama · 15/07/2011 14:07

tyler, dd and ds2 have old fashioned names (ds2's name is in the bible)

Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 15/07/2011 14:08

You don't want to run it past us first so we can confuse you further confirm that you are right this time?

(I love baby names threads, me)

DoMeDon · 15/07/2011 14:15

Tyler is that the name you want to bin off? What is the raplacement name?

DogsBestFriend · 15/07/2011 14:40

It's no big deal, I did it with DD2. I changed her name by solicitor's document when she was about 8 weeks old, shortly after seperating from their father.

The only thing I'd warn you of is that some arse will try to tell you that it's not right and/or it's not legal and will insist on calling the DC by their original name.

This can be rectified by constant correction, the returning of cards and chques made out to Original Name and by sending said offenders a copy of the change of name deed.

:o

amyhere · 15/07/2011 15:22

Change her name as often as you like. It is literally your choice and nobody elses! It might mess up your kid though because you will keep calling them different things. Not sure though but who cares what other people (other than psychologists) think?

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 15/07/2011 15:23

amyhere OP is talking about a baby. I don't think anyone would advocate changing a child's name.

Original poster
deliakate · 15/07/2011 15:49

Tortoise, the name I'm hoping to use is Rhiannon. With our Welsh background and surname, its perfect, and she is dark and tall - a Celtic lass! Amyhere, I have two close friends who are psychologists, and I care what they think least of anyone - they are bonkers!

OP posts:
takethisonehereforastart · 15/07/2011 17:27

I think you can change a baby's name really easily at the registry office if you do it before their first birthday.

I vaguely remember some woman in the papers saying she called her child something, I forget what (Rafe?), but at six months old she thought he was more of a Huxley and so she popped down to the registry office and they changed it there and then.

I wouldn't judge anyone else for doing it but I would feel a bit odd, showing LO his baby book and the cards we were sent when he was born, all with the 'wrong' name on them because we changed our minds after the announcement. But if I really felt we had made the wrong choice I would do it.

skybluepearl · 15/07/2011 18:09

yes you can change it up to a year after the birth on the birth certificate by going through regisrar.

you can also do it after that at any age by doing a name change through deed poll.

go and change it. it's such a life long thing and it's important you get it right. you can just tell everyone you tried out various names but only seemed happy with xxxx. A few people i know have baby name changed and people are accepting.

TheFrogs · 15/07/2011 18:39

My ds has what is now considered a "chavvy" name too, it was quite unusual when we chose it 14 years ago though!

I wouldn't consider someone bonkers for changing a baby's name....ahem...dd didn't have a name at all until she was two weeks old Grin

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